A chronic sore throat is a dry, painful, and itchy throat condition. Dry air, allergies, flu, cold, and other respiratory infections can make your throat sore. However, knowing the root cause of your sore throat will help you receive the right treatment.

Read more to learn how to determine whether a sore throat is due to allergies or cold.

Allergy Vs. Cold

Allergies are very common, as over 50 million people in the United States suffer from some type of allergy.

Usually, allergy symptoms include congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes, and coughing. If you have an allergy-induced sore throat, you will experience the feeling of scratchiness caused by postnasal drainage or by particles directly entering the respiratory system.

However, if you have a sore throat accompanied by fever and body ache, you are most likely suffering from a viral infection, such as a cold or flu.

Sore Throat Symptoms

Although some symptoms of sore throat caused by allergies and cold are similar, a few symptoms can be different.

Symptoms of sore throat caused by cold include:

Fever

Muscle and body ache

Swollen lymph nodes in the neck region

Symptoms of sore throat caused by allergies include:

Itchy and watery eyes

How Long Does Sore Throat Last?

How long you have been affected is another way to determine if the cause of sore throat is an allergy or cold. A sore throat caused by common cold does not last more than two weeks. However, a sore throat caused by allergies can last for as long as you are exposed to the allergen. If you have hay fever, allergy symptoms can last for six weeks during pollen seasons, and you may develop oral allergy syndrome after eating certain foods.

Oral allergy syndrome can cause:

General hay fever symptoms

An itchy mouth

Redness and swelling of the mouth and lips

A scratchy, irritated throat

What Are the Symptoms of a Sore Throat?

The common symptoms of a sore throat include:

Sneezing

Body aches

Cough

Fever

Hoarse voice

Nasal congestion

Headache

Loss of appetite

Chills

Trouble swallowing

Swollen glands in the neck

Do Allergies Cause Sore Throat?

Usually, allergies from pollen, pet dander, cigarette smoke, mold or mildew, and dust mites can result in a sore throat. Allergy symptoms include coughing, itchy eyes, congestion, and sneezing. Your symptoms can worsen during seasons when there is a higher amount of airborne irritants caused by pollinating trees and flowers.

How Can You Know If Your Sore Throat Is Allergies?

Postnasal drip and scratchiness are the main symptoms of an allergy-induced sore throat. Postnasal drip results from exposure to the allergen and occurs when a blockage in the sinuses drains down the throat. This can cause a scratchy feeling when particles directly enter the respiratory system and may result in:

Dr. Allan Lieberman is the founder and the medical director of the Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine (COEM) that specializes in Environmental Medicine and Toxicology. Dr. Lieberman has been practicing medicine for the last 58 years, and as a research scientist, he has published many research articles. He is a highly-respected member of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine and also specializes in Pediatrics.

Disclaimer:
All material provided on the Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine web site is for educational purposes only. Access to the web site does not create a doctor-patient relationship nor should the information contained on the web site be considered specific medical advice for any person, patient and/or medical condition. Consult a physician regarding the application of any opinions or recommendations from this website, for any symptom or medical condition. Dr. Lieberman specifically disclaims any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, that is or may be incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, resulting from use or application pertaining to any of the information provided on the web site.